(from Bugatti Press
Release) Hundred years of Bugatti at the Geneva Autoshow

The Veyron „Bleu Centenaire“ – a
one off anniversary model

Geneva, 3rd March 2009 –
At Geneva the Bugatti Veyron « Grand Sport » is shown for the first
time to
a wider public in Europe. Next to the Grand Sport Bugatti
Automobiles S.A.S. presents the Veyron
« Bleu Centenaire », a special commission honouring the 100th
anniversary of the company, thus
initiating a range of worldwide activities celebrating the creation
of this mythic brand a hundred years
ago.

Hundred years of Bugatti

In 1909 Ettore Bugatti
started his business in the Alsacian town of Molsheim, France. The
name of the
company: „Ettore Bugatti Automobiles i.Els.“. And although the name
has changed into “Bugatti
Automobiles S.A.S.”, the site and the philosophy of the brand have
been preserved. In 2006 the first model under the „new management“
was launched, precisely 50 years after the last car of the original
company left the gates of the Molsheim factory. The Bugatti Veyron
has only been on the market for three years, but has already reached
the status of being an undisputed part of automotive history, with
250 cars ordered to date, and nearly 200 cars delivered. This means
that there are only 50 Veyrons to be sold until the limit of 300
units will be reached.

The Veyron “Bleu Centenaire”

Building on the marque’s
core values of « Art – Forme – Technique » , Bugatti Automobiles
S.A.S. has created the Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire, a unique
model to celebrate the hundred year old history of the company. This
special model takes up the traditional Bugatti
two-tone-specification, but portrays it in one rather than two
colours: in the most known light shaded Bugatti blue. The
Centenaire’s unique combination of a « sprintblue matt » and «
sprintblue gloss » hence offers a new impression of the
two-tone-scheme known so far with parts of the engine also covered
in this traditional Bugatti Blue.

The roof-trim-stripes
and the exterior rearview mirrors are of polished, anodised
aluminium. A special wheel design has been added – enhanced by a
bright red brake-capillar. The grills at the front and at the side
air intakes are in « mirror shine ».

The interior of the Centenaire is fitted in a special «snowbeige»
leather with quilting on the seats. The
central console is covered in the same leather. New LED lights, Park
Distance Control and a rearview camera have become part of the
standard equipment for all Bugatti Veyrons from this year onwards.
The Bleu Centenaire shares all performance characteristics of other
Veyron models performance-, acceleration- and deceleration
characteristics which have been highly praised ever since the
Bugatti Veyron first appeared on the scene. The car will cost 1,35
Million Euro exclusive taxes and transportation.

Celebrations throughout the year

“2009 will be an
exciting year for the brand,” announces the President of Bugatti
Automobiles S.A.S., Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen, at Geneva Autoshow, “we
will be celebrating our hundredth anniversary with references to our
successful past and a – hopefully – successful future”.

"Bugatti Automobiles
S.A.S. “, will celebrate its hundredth anniversary on various
occasions throughout the year, culminating in an event in Molsheim
on September 12, 2009. The next highlight Bugattisti should look out
for will be the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este at Cernobbio in the
North of Italy between April 24 and 26.